Pure Heart, Enlightened Mind

Publisher's Summary

In 1979, 24-year-old Irish-American Maura O'Halloran moved to Japan and became the first woman ever admitted to Toshoji Temple. Soshin-san (O'Halloran's monastic name) labored through 3 hard years of intense work and study in preparation for becoming a dharma teacher. Her life ended abruptly during a trip to Thailand, and today Soshin-san is revered as a Buddhist saint. The writings in this program are from her private and heartfelt journals and letters. They eloquently describe the rigors, hardships, and ultimate joys of Zen training and temple life, while providing a unique insight into the soul of a beloved, spiritual woman.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful

Nice to hear again

If you could sum up Pure Heart, Enlightened Mind in three words, what would they be?

A beautuiful reading of a touching book

Any additional comments?

I was the original recording engineer on this, and though I have the original cassette release I wanted to hear it again. I was so terribly disappointed at the really inferior sound quality of audible that I may never buy from them again. For a few dollars more I cna get a CD with full frequency response and none of the awful smeary sound that they put in their proprietary audio format. I was disappointed at the first audble product I heard, and let my membership lapse for five years. Recently I revived it, only to find that they sound even worse now compared to CD audiobook and other sellers. It is really too bad audible has such a lock on MP3 releases as rthey do a really bad job of transferring good audio to their lousy format.

Pure Heart, Enlightened Mind: The Life and Letters of an Irish Zen Saint.

It is profoundly rare that I take the time to write or speak on any book....but know deeply, this book is special. As a Catholic, who is also experienced in Zen Buddhism, this book is a rare gift to both religions. Pure Heart, Enlightened Mind is the story of Maura O'Halloran a profoundly intelligent young women who was raised Catholic who becomes a saint within the Zen Buddhist tradition. This is the story of her adventure and of her enlightenment.

While the concepts may be difficult for non-Buddhists to understand, please do not let this deter you. Maura story is enchanting and deeply insightful into true spirituality ...the truth of the beauty of this life....that is so often so difficult to see.

Mare Winningham's wonderful voice and Irish accent will make you feel as if ...Maura is in the room reading the book to you.